Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant having flat inflorescence form and anenome inflorescence type; medium yellow ray floret color with minimal oxidation; uniform eight week response; short plant height and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Joy (No. 70010C05).

Joy is a product of a planned sport induction program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with anenome type inflorens, uniform 8 and 9 week flowering response, yellow and bronze inflorescence color, and high grade-out (Society of American Florist standards).

Joy is an induced sport of No. 70010005, (unnamed seedling). Joy was discovered and selected by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett on Jan. 1, 1975 as one plant within a flowering block of the parental cultivar in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio. Plants within the flowering block were derived from stock plants which had been irradiated as rooted cuttings with an x-ray source of 1800 r. units.

The parental cultivar of Joy, No. 70010005, was originated by the present inventors in 1969 as a product of a controlled breeding program. The female, or seed parent of No. 70010005 was No. 67100005 (unnamed seedling), a yellow daisy originated by the present inventors in 1966 from a cross between Tuneful (No. 54285007; unpatented, commercially available) and No. 65741001 (unnamed seedling). The male, or pollen parent, of No. 70010005 was Topflight (No. 21580E01; unpatented; commercially available), a yellow anemone originated by the present inventors in 1953 from a cross between No. 521258-3 (unnamed seedling) and Sunray (No. 21068E01; unpatented; commercially available). Tuneful, No. 65741001, and No. 521258-3 were products of the breeding program of the present inventors. The parentage of Sunray is unknown to the present inventors.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Joy was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July, 1975 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated Mar. 9, 1976 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Joy are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Joy has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Barberton, Ohio under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice, as described in Chart A which appears at the end of the present specification. A light intensity chart of general is shown in ASHAE Trans., Vol. 64, pg. 64, and reference is made thereto.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Joy which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat inflorescence form.

2. Anenome inflorescence type.

3. Medium yellow ray floret color, tinging light bronze with cool (below 60° F) finishes.

4. Minimal inflorescence color oxidation during high temperature periods.

5. Uniform eight week flowering response to photo-periodic short-day control.

6. Short plant height (requiring 2-3 long day weeks prior to short days to attain a flowered plant height of 72 to 82 cm. when grown as a single stem plant from May through October).

7. Semi-upright branching pattern.

8. Diameter across face of inflorescence up to 95 mm. at maturity.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of Joy. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Joy. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing three views of the inflorescence of Joy. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph of the foliage of Joy at three stages of growth.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar existing cultivars in comparison to Joy are Florida Marble (No. 54318G08; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,288) and Cavalier (No. 62527004; unpatented). Reference is made to attached Chart B which compares certain characteristics of Joy, Florida Marble, and Cavalier. To summarize:

1. In comparison to Florida Marble, Joy has darker ray floret color, smaller diameter across face of inflorescence, different inflorescence color retention, shorter plant height, shorter flowering response, and different inflorescence type. The inflorescence form of Joy is similar to that of Florida Marble.

2. In comparison to Cavalier, Joy has smaller diameter across face of inflorescence, different inflorescence color, shorter plant height, and shorter flowering response. The ray floret color, inflorescence form, and inflorescence type of Joy are similar to those same characteristics of Cavalier.

In the following description, color references are made to The Munsell Limit Color Cascade, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between 8:00 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. on May 5, 1976 under 150 foot-candle light intensity at Barberton, Ohio.

Botanical Classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. cv Joy.

INFLORESCENCE (see Sheets 1 and 2 of drawings).

Capitulum

Form.--flat.

Type.--Anenome.

Diameter across face.--60 to 95 mm.

Permanence.--10 to 14 days.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (abaxial).--26-6 to 26-4 tinging with cool temperature finishes to 31-11 over 26-6.

Color (adaxial).--31-11 streaked lightly over 26-4.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (immature).--24-10.

Color (mature).--27-6.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Numerous; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

Plant (see Sheet 1 of drawings)

General appearance: semi-upright branching pattern; short height.

Foliage (see Sheets 1 and 3 of drawings):

Color (abaxial).--20-15.

Color (adaxial).--20-14.

    __________________________________________________________________________     CHART A                                                                        AVERAGE GREENHOUSE CHRYSANTHEMUM ENVIRONMENTS                                  USED FOR BARBERTON, OHIO                                                              TEMPERATURES USED                                                                   Bright                                                                              Cloudy                                                                              LIGHTING BLACK CLOTH                                                                            SUPP                                    SEASON Night                                                                               Day  Day  USED     USED    CO.sub.2                                __________________________________________________________________________            65° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 4 weeks                                                                            To Sept. 15                                                                            From                                                          at 3 Hours Per                                                                          on - 5:30 PM                                                                           Oct. 15                                 FALL   to   to   to   Night                                                                                   Off - 7:30 AM                                                                          300 ppm                                        56° F                                                                        80° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                                    58° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 5 weeks                                             WINTER to   to   to   at 5 hours Per                                                                          NONE    300 ppm                                                       Night                                                           62° F                                                                        70° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                                    58° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 4 weeks                                                                            From Mar. 15                                                                           to                                                                     on - 5:30 PM                                                                           Apr. 15                                 SPRING to   to   to   at 5 Hours Per                                                                 Night    Off - 7:30 AM                                                                          300 ppm                                        65° F                                                                        80° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        of 7- 10 f.c.                                                   62° F                                                                        70° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        1 to 2 weeks                                             SUMMER to   to   to   at 3 Hours Per                                                                          on - 6:00 PM                                                          Night            NONE                                           68° F                                                                        90° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                                                            Off - 8:00 AM                                   __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________     CHART B.                                                                       COMPARISON OF JOY, FLORIDA MARBLE AND CAVALIER                                                DIAMETER                                                               RAY FLORET                                                                             ACROSS FACE OF                                                                            INFLORESCENCE                                                                              PLANT FLOWERING                                                                              INFLORESCENCE              CULTIVAR                                                                              COLOR   INFLORESCENCE                                                                             COLOR RETENTION                                                                            HEIGHT                                                                               RESPONSE                                                                               FORM &                     __________________________________________________________________________                                                         TYPE                       Joy    Medium  60 to 95 mm.                                                                              Good        Short 8 week  Flat                              Yellow                                       Anenome                    Florida                                                                               Light                                        Flat                       Marble Yellow  70 to 85 mm.                                                                              Poor        Medium                                                                               9 week  Daisy                      Cavalier                                                                              Medium  75 to 95 mm.                                                                              Medium      Medium                                                                               9 week  Flat                              Yellow                                       Anenome                    COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN IN A GREENHOUSE IN                            BARBERTON, OHIO UNDER CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN CHART A.                         __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Joy and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat inflorescence form; anenome inflorescence type; medium yellow ray floret color, tinging light bronze with cool (below 60° F) finishes; minimal inflorescence color oxidation during high temperature periods; uniform 8 week flowering response to photoperiodic short-day control; short plant height; semi-upright branching pattern; and diameter across face of inflorescence up to 95 mm. at maturity. 